The Magic of Carmen on Czech stages: 150 years since its premiere in Paris
Hello and welcome to RPI’s Sunday Music Show with me RF. On March 3, 1875, Georges Bizet's Carmen had its world premiere at the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris. The opera triggered shock and disapproval for breaking away from the conventions of the time. Today, however, Carmen is considered one of the most significant and beloved works in the operatic repertoire worldwide.
The first Carmen in the Czech lands
Carmen was first performed in the Czech lands in 1880 in German at the Estates Theatre in Prague. The opera was later staged in Czech on January 3, 1884, at the National Theatre, with a translation by Eliška Krásnohorská. The premiere, conducted by Moritz Anger and directed by František Hynek, was met with great enthusiasm.
The continued popularity of Carmen in Czechia
Since its debut in Prague, Carmen has remained a favourite in Czech theatres. In the 1890s, it was performed 54 times in Prague, becoming the most frequently performed French opera at the time.
Many famous Czech singers have performed the role of Carmen over the years, including Ema Destinnová, who starred in the role eight times between 1908 and 1918, and Dagmar Pecková, who won the Thalia Award for her portrayal in 1999. Soňa Červená, another famous Czech singer, became known for her performances of Carmen in top opera houses around the world, and a recording of her performance was made in 1960.
Carmen remains in the current repertoire at the National Theatre, with singers like Ramona Zaharia and Ester Pavlů alternating in the title role. In today’s edition of Sunday Music Show, we be listening to the recording of Carmen from 2012, featuring Magdalena Kožená in the lead role, alongside the Berlin Philharmonic.
A Timeless Favourite
Carmen remains very popular in Czechia. According to the Operabase database, it ranks third in the number of performances, with 447 performances in 59 productions between 2004 and 2018. Only Verdi’s La Traviata and Dvořák’s Rusalka were performed more often during that time.
Since its Prague premiere in 1884, Carmen has been staged 12 times at the National Theatre, with the role of Carmen performed by 131 different soloists.
